Peter Murrell, the estranged husband of former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon, pleaded guilty Monday to embezzling more than £400,000 [1] from the Scottish National Party.
The admission marks a critical turning point in the investigation into the SNP's financial management, potentially damaging the reputation of the party's former leadership.
Murrell appeared before the Edinburgh High Court on May 25, 2026 [2], where he formally accepted responsibility for the theft. The funds, which total approximately $540,000 [3], were diverted from party accounts for personal spending. This legal proceeding is the culmination of Operation Branchform, a police investigation into the party's finances.
"I accept responsibility for my actions and apologise to the party," Murrell said [4].
Prosecutors from the Crown Office said that the evidence shows a clear pattern of misuse of SNP funds [5]. The case follows a period of significant instability for the party's top tier. Nicola Sturgeon resigned as SNP leader and First Minister in February 2023 [6], and Murrell was arrested in April 2023 [7].
Sturgeon, who is now estranged from Murrell, has distanced herself from the financial crimes. "I had no knowledge of any of the items purchased with the money," Sturgeon said [8].
The court heard that the embezzled amount was more than £400,000 [1], though some reports list the figure at exactly £400,000 [2]. The discrepancy reflects the scale of the funds diverted during Murrell's tenure as the party's chief executive.
“"I accept responsibility for my actions and apologise to the party."”
The guilty plea by Peter Murrell provides a legal resolution to a long-standing investigation into the SNP's internal financial controls. While the admission closes the question of Murrell's culpability, the political fallout continues to linger for Nicola Sturgeon, as the case ties the former First Minister's domestic life to the systemic misuse of party funds.
